Metal spring cover



March 7, 1933. ,.w. T. FERGUQN METAL SPRING COVER Filed May 31, 195o [III:

INVENTOR Patented Mar. 7, 1933 Y UNITED vSjflATEs PATENT GFI-ICE WARREN T. FERGUSON, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AJAX SPRING STABILIZER COMPANY, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A ,OORPORATION- 0]? ILLINOIS METAL SPRING COVER v Application led May 31,

This invention relates to metal spring covers for housing laminated springs of automobiles, and more especially to an improved metal cover which will be of more substantial construction being formed to eliminate an objectionable feature present in metal covers heretofore known.

Spring covers, tapered form to fit over the spring, have a tendency to work toward the outer or smaller end of the spring terminating in the eye for engaging the shackle. The smaller end of the cover is open, the spring projecting therethrough, and the relatively thin top plate of the cover is directly adjacent to the shackle eye. It is the flexing action of the spring which tends to move the casing outwardly toward the shackle eye and this tendency has heretofore caused considerable trouble and damage, if the eye of the spring is not closed tightly. If the curled end forming the eye is not tight against the spring the top plate of the casing will work through the opening into the eye, become jammed therein, and cause a permanent displacement of the casing relatively to the spring. If the eye is tightly closed or closed sufficiently to prevent a working of the top plate thereunder, the continued chucking of the metal against the rounded eye will cause the top plate to break away at its edges and curl up, thereby damaging the cover and facilitating its displacement on the spring with consequent looseness and loss of its capacity to prevent leaves. The object of my invention is to so construct this end of the casing as to eliminate these objectionable and damaging features.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining the scope of the invention, the claims appended hereto being relied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures of the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates one end of a laminated spring housed by my improved metal cover;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the shackle end thereof;

which necessarily are of -enced in sheet metal spring covers hereto-- fore known due to the tendency of the cover to work outwardly toward the shackle end of fanning of the spring 'u 1930. Serial No. 458,679.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the shackle end;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalk view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a the damage resulting to metal covers as heretofore constructed. l' Considerable dificulty has been experithe spring. If the eye of the' spring is tightly closed, the top plate of the cover during the ieXings of the spring will continually.v be

thrown against the eye with the result that' it eventually is torn away from the side plates. In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have illustrated an example of this objectionable damage. In this view the top plate of thecover 10 has worked against the shackle eye 11 of -70 will be obvious that the thrust of the casing 75 -against the eye is taken entirely by -plate of the small end of the cover,

the topy and the cover being necessarily of relatively thin metal is not strong enoughtto withstand this j continual working thrust. If the eye of the spring is not tightly closed, the

small end of the cover works thereinto and the cover is held in its displaced position.

In the improved metal/cover embodying my invention its small end portion is so constructed that lit is sufliciently strong andy rigid to withstand these shocks without damage and at the same time thick or heavy enough, with-y out increased weight, to prevent'jamming in 90 thel shackle eye. I

Referring now to my improved metal cover shown 1n Figs. 1 to 4 ofthe-drawing,

,2O indicates alaminated spring, the eye 21 of which isA connected by shackle links 22 to 95 theframe support 23. Enclosing the spring is ay metal cover 24. vWhile the casing illustrated herein is a sectional cover likethat disclosed. in U. S. patentto F. Schlesser No.

1,648,742, Nov. 8, 1927 in which the topplatey 100 fragmentary view illustrating A5.5

which will now be described,

of the cover inwardly and longitudinally of flexing of the enclosed spring which flexing. tends to Work the cover toward the shackle end of the spring. My improved metal cover is so constructed as to eliminate the passing of the small end of the cover into the spring eye and so thatthis end serves to prevent outward movement of the cover without itself becoming damaged. I accomplish this preferably by so upsetting or 'corrugating the metal of the small end of the cover that it is effectually strengthened and `thickened to perform the desired functions.

This method of procedure is preferable since it is more economical and presents a better appearance. In Athe form which I have pre ferred to illustrate, the corrugations 27 extend from the free end of the top plate 25 the cover. The several corrugations are in spaced relation widthwise of the top plate and are suliicient in number to greatly increase the stiffness of the metal. These corrugated ribs are formed highest at their Vouter ends, whereby' they present abrupt shoulders to the eye 21 of the spring. These shoulders so thicken the small end of the cover as to prevent any working thereof into the shackle eye and the ribs so strengthen and stiffen the casing ends as to make it withstand the chucks against the shackle eye without curling or breaking away from the side plates.

The nature and scope of my invention having been indicated and its preferred embodi- `ment having been specifically described,

what is claimed as new, is

l. A metal spring cover, comprising a ytapering hollow body for enclosing a spring,

the small end of said body having a plurality of transversely spaced stiflening ribs 'extending from the edge thereof longitudinally of the body and presenting at the small end of said body an abrupt shoulder of greater effective thickness than that of the cover to engage the eye of the spring.

2. A metal spring cover, comprising a taperinghollow body for enclosing a spring, the small end of the body having a plurality :of relatively spaced thickening ribs integral with the top plate of the body and extending from the edge thereof longitudinally of the body,

edge to form abrupt outwardly facing shoulders and tapering in height to merge into the `metal of the top plate.

3. A metal spring cover comprising a tapering body,'for enclosing the smaller end said ribs being thickest at saidl portion of a leaf spring, the small end of said body having a longitudinally extending rib of greater effective thickness and rigidity than the adjacent portions of said body and presenting an abrupt end shoulder to engage the eye of the spring.

In testimony whereof'I affix mysignature.

WARREN T. FERGUSON. 

